Lakers to honor Riley with statue outside arena

Former coach led team to 5 NBA championships

Statue to be unveiled before game against Celtics

The Los Angeles Lakers will honor former coach Pat Riley with a statue outside their arena. The statue will be unveiled before the Lakers' game against the Boston Celtics on November 14.

Riley coached the Lakers for nine seasons, from 1981 to 1990. He led the team to five NBA championships, in 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1989 led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. Riley was also named NBA Coach of the Year in 1990.

After leaving the Lakers, Riley coached the New York Knicks from 1991 to 1995 and the Miami Heat from 1995 to 2003 and 2005 to 2008. He led the Heat to four NBA championships, in 2006, 2012, 2013, and 2016. Riley is the only coach in NBA history to win championships with three different teams.

Riley is considered one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.